Northgate Farmers Market Debuts Thursday

Thursday afternoon marks the opening of a farmers market in Northgate.

Sponsored by the Howdy Farm student group at Texas A&M, spokeswoman Jessica Newman says it’s part of a $45,000 fundraising effort to expand and add features to their sustainable farm on west campus.

Newman says 10 to 15 vendors will sell local produce and locally made goods like artwork, jewelry, and soaps.

Howdy Farm will have a booth at the market featuring tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, herbs, radishes, and greens.

The goal is to create four new sustainably-cultivated gardens, (1) a Zen garden featuring tropical plants, bamboos, a study space, and a sand garden, (2) one titled the “Sky’s the Limit” planter featuring vertical planters and connective trellising, (3) the Howdy! Farm Flagpole Garden that would have an adult-sized walk-through jungle of trellised hops, grown for the local Blackwater Draw Brew Company, that buys their produce, and (4) “The New Field”, which feature a half-acre of vegetable rows, bounded by beneficial-attractors and wildflowers.

Funds would also support a sustainability building built by Reclaimed Space Austin where upon completion this summer educational workshops would be held.

Another goal is Howdy Farm becoming a permanent destination on the A&M campus and part of the Gardens and Greenway project, as they will be located at the entrance to this tourist attraction.

The Thursday farmers market is open from 2 until 6 p.m. behind Blackwater Draw on Boyett.